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The South Carolina football team has concluded its spring session and now the real work begins with the football players finishing classwork and hitting the gym to get better. The coaches also enter an important recruiting phase, whereas they will not only be looking at the 2013 class but will begin thinking of future classes.
The Gamecocks have a lot of upside in 2012 given the returning talent, matched with some new guys ready to help USC reach the next level after a 11-win 2011. Coach Steve Spurrier has ushered in a new wave of thinking where beating Georgia, Florida and Tennessee is now expected.
The next step is winning the SEC and getting to a BCS bowl. It can be done, and the one thing Spurrier wants is for you to continue to doubt him and his players.
As USC marches on towards new heights for its football program, there are five important post-spring dates to keep in mind. They are:
Spring Graduation
The Gamecocks football team had 15 seniors on its 2011 roster. Let's hope all of them kept their grades where they needed to be and finished out their degrees.
This past senior class helped take the Gamecocks to new levels of success never before seen in Columbia, S.C. From an SEC East crown to a record 11-win season, the bar has been set high by these men, and they deserve a pat on the back for getting the program where it has always needed to be.
Let's hope that their on-the-field success leads to success in their next chapter in life.
Dates: May 4-5
SEC Media Days
The SEC Media Days just can not get here fast enough.
Typically, this event helps to usher in the fever of the fall football season. This is a time when the talk begins on who will rise to be the best, and every fan begins to think of a trip to Atlanta for the SEC championship.
There is much to get excited for in this event as the All-SEC ballots are cast, and also there will be some new teams discussed in Missouri and Texas A&M.
Head coach Steve Spurrier will be in attendance, but it will be interesting in whom he decides to take with him this season for this occasion. Generally, it is just two players, and the likely suspects are Connor Shaw, Marcus Lattimore, Devin Taylor and DeVonte Holloman. Tentative Date: July 18
Fall Camp Begins
The South Carolina football team will begin preparations for their fall season on Aug. 3. That is when camp begins and the team comes together.
With several new players expected to fight for playing time, like Shaq Roland at wideout, the start of camp will be interesting to pay attention to as it will shed more light on what this Gamecocks football team is all about. Date: Aug. 3
First Day of Classes
One thing that Coach Steve Spurrier stresses is time in the classroom. With increased attention on APR scores, the Gamecocks have to hit the books and get in done not just on the field but also through their classwork.
After a few weeks of football practices, the Gamecocks football team must adjust to school work, and it gives these young men time to be like other college kids.
Expectations are high for these Gamecocks, not just in terms of gridiron glory. Date: Aug. 23
The First Game
The South Carolina Gamecocks will hit the road to take on the Vanderbilt Commodores on their turf. This is not only the first game for both squads, but also the SEC opener. It's safe to say this game sets the stage for 2012.
Vandy is not a pushover by any means due to the fact that Coach James Franklin is increasing the competitiveness of the 'Dores. Vandy has also given the Gamecocks fits in the past.
USC must dominate in this game due to it setting the stage for what could be a special season. Date: Aug. 30
link: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1155649-south-carolina-football-5-most-important-post-spring-dates?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=south-carolina-football#/articles/1155649-south-carolina-football-5-most-important-post-spring-dates